Classicist, Military and Naval Historian, and Best-Selling Author
The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation has announced that Barry Strauss, an esteemed classicist, military and naval historian, and best-selling author, is a 2025 Bradley Prize winner. Strauss will receive the award at the Bradley Prizes ceremony on Thursday, May 29th at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.
Now in its 21st year, the Bradley Prize is awarded to individuals whose extraordinary work exemplifies the Foundation’s mission to restore, strengthen, and protect the principles and institutions of American exceptionalism and honors the ideals of the Western tradition.
“Barry is a historian of profound insight, whose career has opened to new generations the richness and rigor of studying the classical world,” said Rick Graber, president of The Bradley Foundation. “Barry's principled scholarship, defense of free speech in the academy, and advancement of informed citizenship through his teaching underscore his contributions to preserving freedom. His work deepens our understanding of Western civilization and strengthens the intellectual foundations of liberty. We are pleased to honor Barry with a Bradley Prize.”
As in the past, this year’s award winners were chosen by the Bradley Prizes Selection Committee, after careful review of over 60 distinguished nominations. Each award carries a stipend of $300,000.
“I’m honored beyond words by this recognition by The Bradley Foundation, which has done so much to advance constitutional liberty and civic education in the roots of American exceptionalism,” Strauss said. “I am honored too to join the company of the distinguished men and women who are among the Bradley Prize winners. It’s a reminder that the work of educating free citizens is ongoing. ‘Thank you’ doesn’t begin to express my gratitude to the Foundation, to my family, to my students, and to my teachers.”
Strauss is currently the Corliss Page Dean Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and Series Editor of Princeton’s Turning Points in Ancient History. He is also the Bryce and Edith M. Bowmar Professor in Humanistic Studies Emeritus at Cornell University, where he was the Chair of the Department of History as well as Professor of History and Classics. Previously, he served as Distinguished Visiting Professor in the Department of Defense Analysis at the Naval Postgraduate School.
Strauss is a recognized authority on leadership and the lessons that can be learned from the experiences of the greatest political and military leaders of the ancient world, most particularly, Caesar, Hannibal, and Alexander.
Strauss has held many fellowships. In recognition of his scholarship, he was named a member of the American Academy of Sciences & Letters, he received Italy’s Lucio Colletti Journalism Prize for literature, and he was named an Honorary Citizen of Salamis, Greece. Strauss has appeared on The History Channel, Netflix, CNN, PBS and The Discovery Channel and is host of the popular podcast, ANTIQUITAS: Leaders and Legends of the Ancient World.
Strauss is the author of ten books on ancient history which have been translated into twenty languages. His recent book, The War that Made the Roman Empire: Antony, Cleopatra, and Octavian at Actium was top on Amazon ‘s bestseller list and was named to four best books of the year lists. In August he will publish his latest book, Jews vs. Rome: Two Centuries of Rebellion Against the World’s Mightiest Empire.
Strauss holds a Ph.D. from Yale and a B.A. from Cornell.